John ward cousins



(No Model.)

J. W. COUSINS. ARTIFICIAL EAR DRUM.

No. 419.420. v Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

WW5. m. Inventor N. PETERS. Phololulwgmpher. wmm m u.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WARD COUSINS, OF SOUTIISEA, COUNTY OF HANTS, ENGLAND.

ARTIFICIAL EAR-DRUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,420, dated January14, 1890.

Application filed November 2, 1889. Serial No. 329,009. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN \I ARD OOUsINs, a subject of Her Majesty theQueen of Great Britain, residing at Southsea, in the county of llants,England, have invented a new and useful Improved Antiseptic ArtificialEar- Drum, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention consists of an improved antiseptic artificial eardrum orear-protector which is of service for improving the hearing power incases of deafness caused by perforation of the drum of the ear or otheraural diseases, or as a constant antiseptic in fetid suppuration, thoughthey are Well adapted for the use of other than deaf persons as aprotection against cold and wind, where a plug of cotton-wool would heusually employed.

The ear-dru ms according to my invention are formed hollow or somewhatin the shape of a hat with a high crown and rim and with or without aprojecting flexible strip or tab on one side, a drum such as describedbeing shown in the drawing forming part of this specification, in whicha is the crown,b the rim, and c'the flexible strip or tab. The materialof which they are composed may be cotton-wool or suitable fibroussubstance. In manufacturing such drumsI preferably proceed as follows: Amass of cotton-wool, afterbeingfirst macerated in a hot boracic-acidsolution and dried, is laid in a sheet of about one-sixteenth of an inchthick on a tray and then saturated with a mixture of collodion, (twoparts,) alcohol, (one part,) 'and other, (one part,) a little wax havingbeen previously dissolved in the ether. The eX- cess moisture issqueezed out, and the sheet is then compressed in some suitable machine,so that a firm (though absorbent) sheet is produced. On removal from thepress the sheet is allowed to dry, and the drums of the shape shown,with or without the strip or tab, are stamped therefrom by means ofsuitable punches and dies. The alcohol used is previously mixed with anantiseptic, such as a preparation of the Pmus pumi'lio or eucalyptus, orboth, and, if desired, with a small quantity of apink or scarlet dye,which will impart a flesh-colored tint to the finished article. Ifpreferred, a solid powder dye may be suspended in the antisepticsubstance, and this may be dropped onto the drum after the latter ismade, though I do not consider this manner so desirable.

In place of immersing the cotton-wool in the solution of collodion,alcohol, and ether, a solution of alum may be employed; but theresulting article is fluffy and less compact.

To introduce the drum, it should be placed on the blunt point of a probeor small rod and gently pushed far into the ear. The strip or tab willbe found a convenient means of removing the same; or it can be readilyremoved with a pair of tweezers.

I do not desire to confine myself to the particular shape or process ofmanufacture described; but

What I claim is-- As an article of manufacture, an artificial ear drumor protector of substantially the shape shown composed of cotton wool orfiber saturated with suitable antiseptic substances and stamped ormolded into shape, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN WVARD COUSINS.

Vitnesses:

S. HUDsoN, J. MAIN.

